Buddleia Plant Named &#39;Hinebud3&#39;

ABSTRACT

A  Buddleia  plant particularly distinguished by low-growing and densely branched, large, pure-white inflorescences that flower soon after propagation, and dark foliage, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Buddleia hybrid (complex hybrid of Buddleia davidii×Buddleiaalternifolia×Buddleia caryopterifolia×Buddleia lindleyana×Buddleiacrispa)

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Hinebud3’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Buddleia,botanically known as Buddleia hybrid, and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘Hinebud3’. The new variety originated from across-pollination conducted in Winters, Calif. in August 2010 betweenthe female Buddleia parent, an un-named seedling (unpatented) and themale Buddleia parent, an un-named seedling (unpatented). A single plantselection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and asexualpropagation in Winters, Calif.

The new plant was first asexually propagated in June 2011 in Winters,Calif. and has been asexually reproduced by cuttings for two years inWinters, Calif. The present invention has been found to retain itsdistinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations bysoftwood cuttings.

‘Hinebud3’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than oneyear prior to the filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Winters, Calif.

1. Low-growing and densely branched;

2. Large, pure-white inflorescences that flower soon after propagation;and

3. Dark foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Buddleia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the overall plant habit, foliage and inflorescence of theplant. The colors are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a15-month-old plant grown in a greenhouse and outdoors in Winters, Calif.in May 2012.

FIG. 1 shows the whole plant, including the habit, foliage andinflorescence.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the inflorescence and foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Hinebud3’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inWinters, Calif. The plant history was taken in May 2012 on two-year oldplants grown outdoors in Winters, Calif. Color references were takenunder natural light and are to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), fifth edition (2007) or to thethe R.H.S. mini chart (2005) as indicated. Texture descriptions weretaken using a dissecting microscope.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Scrophulariaceae.        -   Botanical name.—Buddleia hybrid (complex hybrid of Buddleia            davidii×Buddleia alternifolia×Buddleia            caryopterifolia×Buddleia lindleyana×Buddleia crispa).        -   Common name.—Butterfly bush.        -   Denomination.—‘Hinebud3’.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Bush, oval-shaped.        -   Habit.—Compact, well-branched shrub.        -   Height (measured from the top of the soil).—122.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—135.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished plant.—12 weeks from a softwood            cutting.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Prefers full sun, USDA zones 5-9.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—About 8 to 10 days.        -   Root description and habit.—White (RHS 155B), fibrous, dense            and branching.        -   Propagation type.—Softwood cuttings.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—Approximately 80.        -   Length.—About 50.0 cm to 60.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—3.0 cm.        -   Diameter (from midpoint).—About 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 139C.        -   Strength.—Strong and somewhat flexible.        -   Texture.—Tomentose.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Quantity of leaves per branch.—About 16 to 24.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Length.—10.0 cm to 12.0 cm.        -   Width.—3.0 cm to 3.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Color, immature.—Upper surface: RHS 139A Lower surface: RHS            191C.        -   Color, mature.—Upper surface: RHS 139A Lower surface: RHS            191B.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Mostly glabrous but with scattered            stellate trichomes Lower surface: Densely floccose with            stellate trichomes.        -   Venation type.—Arcuate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 138D Lower surface: RHS            138C.        -   Petiole.—Color: RHS 138C Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: 0.16 cm            Texture: Floccose.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Height.—18.0 cm to 20.0 cm.        -   Width.—8.0 cm to 10.0 cm.        -   Bud.—Color: RHS N999 (using the RHS mini color chart) at top            and RHS 11C along the corolla Shape: Tetragonal Height: 1.0            cm from calyx to tip Diameter: 0.175 cm.        -   Flower.—Type and habit: Single and salverform shaped flowers            arranged in compound terminal panicles; flowers face upright            and outward; panicles are roughly conical in shape;            branching is thyrse, up to four times on the basal half            Fragrance: Sweet and pleasant Flowering season: May to            September in USDA zones 5-9; continuous all year in USDA            zones 10-11 Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant: About            10 to 14 days Depth: 0.4 cm to 0.5 cm Width: 0.8 cm Quantity            per inflorescence: 1100 to 1500 Petals: Arrangement and            quantity per flower: Four arranged in a single whorl but            occasionally, there are 5 petals on flowers on the distal            portion of the inflorescence; the petals fused into a narrow            tube; the petals are flat allowing the inside of the corolla            to be visible Length: 0.4 cm (from the top of the fused            corolla, the corolla length is 1.1 cm) Width: 1.0 cm Shape:            Rounded Apex: Obtuse Base: Fused into the corolla tube            Margin: Crenate Texture: Upper surface: Papillate with            hispid trichomes at the base going down into the inside of            the corolla Lower surface: Less ocpillate than surface with            scattered clusters of stellate trichomes along the outer            margin Color, when opening (using the RHS mini color chart):            Upper surface: RHS 999D Lower surface: RHS 999D Color, when            open (using the RHS mini color chart): Upper surface: RHS            999D Lower surface: RHS 999D Tube: Length: 1.1 cm Width: 0.2            cm to 0.13 at the base Color: Inside: RHS 155D Outside: RHS            157B Texture: Inside: Setose hairs perpendicular to the            surface Outside: Papillate with downward pointing strigose            trichomes Calyx: Arrangement and quantity: Four sepals            arranged in a single whorl and fused towards the base Shape:            Tubular, appressed to the corolla tube Sepals: Length: 0.4            cm Width: 0.1 cm Shape: Fused into a tube Apex: Acute Base:            Rounded Other: There are one or often two very minute            sepal-like appendages at the base where the calyx fuses to            the peduncle; they are loosely appressed to the calyx tube            and are falcate in shape, occasionally being deeply            bi-furcated in which case the inside margin of this defied            part is deeply incised, while the outer edge is entire to            crenulate; they are closely paired and appear on only one            side of the calyx and together are less than one-fourth the            width of the circumference of the calyx tube; they are 0.05            cm to 0.1 cm long and 0.001 cm to 0.003 cm wide; there are            also occasional 0.5 cm to 0.8 cm long falsate leaves            extending at the base where the calyx fuses to the peduncle            that can be 0.05 cm to 0.09 cm wide, loose and following the            same contour of the calyx at a 20° to 30° angle from the            base. Margin: Crenulate Texture: Upper surface: Papillate            with stellate hairs Lower surface: Papillate Color: Upper            surface: RHS 139D Lower surface: RHS 139A Peduncle: Length:            About 3.0 cm to 5.0 cm Diameter: 0.09 cm Strength: Flexible            Color: RHS 139C Texture: Very floccose Pedicel: Length: 0.2            cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Color: RHS 139C Texture: Floccose.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: 4 Filament: Completely fused            to inside of corolla tube; cannot determine length or color            Anther: Length: 0.1 cm Color: RHS 4D Pollen amount: Moderate            Pollen color: RHS 4D.        -   Pistil.—Quantity per flower: 1 Length: 0.2 cm Stigma: Shape:            Long and clefted Color: RHS 137C Style: Length: 0.1 cm            Color: RHS 192B Ovary: Color: RHS 145A.-   Fruit and seed set: Moderate to low. Seeds are elongated    football-shaped, 0.1 cm to 0.15 cm long, and RHS 158A in color.-   Disease and insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETY

‘Hinebud3’ differs from the un-named female Buddleia parent (unpatented)in that ‘Hinebud3’ is shorter than the female parent (‘Hinebud3’ isabout 4 feet or less in height, while the female parent is about 12 to15 feet in height). Additionally, ‘Hinebud3’ has white flowers withlight yellow centers and a compact plant habit, while the female parenthas pink/mauve flowers with orange center and an open and loose planthabit.

‘Hinebud3’ differs from the male Buddleia parent (unpatented) in that‘Hinebud3’ is shorter than the male parent (‘Hinebud3’ is about 4 feetor less in height, while the male parent is about 5 to 6 feet tall).Additionally, ‘Hinebud3’ has white flowers with light yellow centers,while the male parent has lilac flowers with orange centers.

‘Hinebud3’ differs from the commercial comparison ‘White Profusion’(unpatented) in that ‘Hinebud3’ is shorter than ‘White Profusion’(‘Hinebud3’ is about 4 feet or less in height, while ‘White Profusion’is 15 to 18 feet tall). Additionally, ‘Hinebud3’white has white flowerswith light yellow eyes, dark green leaves, and a very tight and compactplant habit, while ‘White Profusion’ has white flowers with yellowishtones and orange eyes, light green leaves, and a loose and large planthabit.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Buddleia plant as shown anddescribed herein.